Auburn Ave.

100% Australian Wool Felt Grosgrain Band w/ satin lining Auburn Avenue isn’t just a street — it’s a cornerstone of Atlanta’s soul. Known historically as Sweet Auburn, this stretch once stood as one of the most prosperous Black business districts in America. A sanctuary where Black-owned banks, insurance companies, churches, newspapers, and entrepreneurs flourished when the rest of the world refused to open its doors. It’s the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., home to Ebenezer Baptist Church, and a spiritual, cultural, and economic anchor for generations. This piece is a tribute to that legacy — but also a confrontation with the truth Dr. King saw long before many were ready to hear it. “I fear I have integrated my people into a burning house.” Dr. King’s words, layered with frustration and foresight, challenged us to look deeper than the surface of progress. He understood that integrating into broken, unjust systems would never be enough if the foundation itself was still bur